When I first started gardening,I was given a Viburnum Bodnantense and told what a lovely shrub it was. I planted it and promptly forgot what it was called as it didn't have a label.
A few years later I stood looking at this vary ordinary plant, wondering why I had been told it was so nice and if I really wanted to give it space in my garden. In disgust, I wandered off without pruning it. Imagine my surprise when a couple of months later, it was covered in pretty little flowers at a time when the garden looked so bare.

Yes, you guessed it. In my ignorance, I had been pruning it at the wrong time, and cutting away all it's chances of flowering. I still have it. It looks lovely now that I have found out what it is and how to care for it.

There are three forms of this plant. Dawn, the most common one, Charles Lamont and Deben. The differences are in the pinkness of the flower. To my mind you have to look closely at all three together to see the differences though (possibly my poor eyesight!). We have all three (Dawn , three times even). The one thing which has not been mentioned is the scent. Lovely on a sunny winter's day.

Thanks Owdbody for the extra info about the different varieties. My wife and I have been enjoying the scent, but as for describing it, that's quite another matter, isn't it difficult?. My choice is a slightly bitter marzipan, while my wife thinks butter toffee. Do the different varieties have different scents?. As far as colour is concerned, ours seems to be about the lightest possible pink.
Bernard

Thanks for your input folks, and I will follow Spritz's advice and feed it. The only leaves that were on when I took the photo have followed their companions into the wild blue yonder, but it would seem a good idea to apply a feed in the spring anyway. In fact I'm wondering about doing this for all the old shrubs that we have inherited from the previous owners who, because of ill health, neglected the garden very badly and I'm sure they could all do with a tonic. (the shrubs, not the previous owners!)